The capacitance formula for a parallel-plate capacitor is: where:
- is the capacitance in farads (F).
- is the permittivity of free space ( F/m).
- is the relative permittivity or dielectric constant of the material.
- is the area of the plates.
- is the separation distance between the plates.
This formula calculates how much electric charge a capacitor can store. The greater the capacitance, the more charge it can hold for a given voltage.
By rearranging the formula, we can find different variables, such as the minimum area of the plates required for a specific capacitance, as done in the exercise. This is crucial for designing capacitors that meet precise electrical criteria.